A check for checks

The town treasurer has issued a notice that four people or companies have not picked up or cashed checks issued to them by the town, and they may be running out of time. Christian Pierce, William Paradiso, Plainweave Realty, and Cleaning Solutions Inc. have yet to secure a total of $100 that the town owes them, said Treasurer Dennis Fearebay. The checks have been sitting in the town offices for three years, and the money will return to Berlin's coffers at the end of the year if the checks remained unclaimed, he said. To contact the treasurer, call 978-838-0344. - John Dyer

FUND FOR FIRE VICTIMS - Residents have organized a donation drive for the Dirsa family of Still River Road, whose home was destroyed in a fire last week, according to the municipal website, www.townofbolton.com. The Fire Department is accepting donations for the family. The effort is focusing on items for the family's two daughters, both below the age of 3, who would benefit from donations of diapers, toys, car seats, and books. Gift cards to large department stores can also be donated. Cash donations can be sent to Darlene Perkins at Florence Sawyer School at 100 Mechanic St. - Matt Gunderson

NEW TOWN ADMINISTRATOR - Nancy Colbert, who is the director of economic development and planning for Newburyport, will take over as Boylston's town administrator in the middle of next month, according to Joseph Connelly, who has been serving as interim administrator. Colbert has accepted a contract with the town and has already attended one of the selectmen meetings. Connelly said he will going back into retirement once Colbert has settled into her new job. - Matt Gunderson

LAWSUIT VICTORY - The town has received $490,000 as part of a class-action lawsuit against oil and chemical companies. The lawsuit involved numerous states and Massachusetts municipalities that were seeking damages against a group of oil and chemical companies, including BP and Royal Dutch Shell, because of their use of methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MBTE, a gasoline additive that moves easily through ground soil. Executive Assistant Paul Blazar said the class-action suit was initiated years ago, and that while Hudson soil tested positive for the substance, the source of the chemical in town is unknown. - John Dyer

SURVEY OUTLINES LOCAL INTERESTS - The town has released a report, "Lincoln Citizens' Needs and Interests," based on a survey conducted in town earlier this year. The report includes opinions on schools, government, housing, and commercial development, as well as statistical data from the survey. It can be viewed at www.lincolntown.org.

- John M. Guilfoil

FLU CLINIC, DISASTER REHEARSAL - The city's free flu-vaccination clinic next weekend is also going to be a dry run for the city's medical emergency plan, said Board of Health director Bob Landry. The flu clinic will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marlborough Middle School on Union Street. Besides giving shots to young children, seniors, and adults with chronic health conditions, the city will also track the event and conduct exercises to prepare for potential crises that require emergency workers to inoculate large numbers of people in the event of a pandemic, said Landry. He expects about 400 people to attend the clinic. - John Dyer

VOTE ON SCHOOL FEASIBILITY STUDY - Selectmen have scheduled a town election for Dec. 9 to decide on funding for a feasibility study on revamping Maynard High School, said Town Administrator John Curran. The study would look into whether the high school should be renovated or a new one should be built. Voters approved the $350,000 article at a recent Town Meeting. Voters agreed to use $50,000 in leftover money in the town coffers to partially offset the cost, said Curran. As a result, voters on Dec. 9 will be asked to sign off on a request for $300,000, about half of which would eventually be reimbursed by the state, he said. - Matt Gunderson

KUDOS, CASH FOR TEACHER - Fifth-grade teacher Chris Sardella has won a $25,000 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. The Zeh Elementary School teacher, who was nominated by his colleagues, was one of 80 educators nationwide who received the honor this year. In granting the prize, foundation officials said Sardella used innovative strategies in the classroom and gave children support above and beyond his required duties. An independent panel of educators and others pick the winners. The awards, which carry an unrestricted $25,000 grant, will be delivered at the foundation's annual conference next spring in Los Angeles. - John Dyer

NEW LIBRARY SITE - As crews finish work on the new Northborough Free Library, the library just completed work on its new website. The site, www.northboroughlibrary.org, allows patrons to reserve books online, look up information on the building process of the new library and see the most popular books checked out. The site also allows user to donate to the library, which expects the $7.7 million addition to its 19th-century building on Main Street to be completed early next year. Work on the addition began in October 2007. - John Dyer

HOTEL PROPOSAL CLEARS VOTE - The Planning Board voted Nov. 8 to approve developer Liberty Investments' plan to build a extended-stay hotel at Lake Street and Boston Turnpike (Route 9). The hotel would have about 124 rooms. Some residents objected to the new construction, citing the size of the hotel, feared increases in traffic, demands on town services, and a devaluation of surrounding property. Town Manager Daniel Morgado said the next step for developers of the proposed Value Place hotel would be to seek approval from the town Conservation Commission. "I expect the project will move forward, provided the proponents still think it a viable business opportunity," Morgado said. - James O'Brien

RISING COST FOR POLICE STATION - The price tag for a proposed new Southborough police station has increased. Under the original proposal, replacing the current station, which is housed in a former elementary school in the town center, would cost $5.5 million, said Municipal Facilities Committee chairman Brian Shea. The new cost is estimated at $7.2 million, he said. The new station would also likely be built as an addition to the Fire Department headquarters, with the two agencies sharing a dispatch center, he said. The arrangement would be cheaper than demolishing the old school and building a new station on top of it. While the cost is expensive, Shea said, it is essential that the town seriously consider improving its police facilities. - John Dyer

RECEIPTS WILL BOOST SCOUTS, LIONS - The Stow Lions Club and the town's Boy Scout Troop 1 are participating in a receipts rewards program this year with Shaw's Supermarkets. For the program, the organizations will receive 1 percent of purchases on receipts turned in by supporters. Residents can donate their Shaw's receipts at collection boxes set up in the front halls of Stow's two elementary schools and at Hale Middle School. - Matt Gunderson

HEARING ON SPENDING PLANS - The town's Community Preservation Committee will hold two public hearings, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and on Dec. 3, in Lower Town Hall to discuss the list of proposals submitted for funding under the Community Preservation Act. Projects include $700,000 to acquire 1.4 miles of former CSX railroad corridor, as water-supply protection as well as a recreational trail, and $1 million for affordable housing units in town. A full list of proposals is available on the town's website, www.Sudbury.ma.us. - John M. Guilfoil

BELT-TIGHTENING RECOMMENDATIONS - The town's Finance Committee has voted unanimously to recommend a hiring freeze, a reduction in discretionary spending, and the deferment of any major purchases if possible as part of efforts to balance the budget for next fiscal year. The vote is in response to the national economic downturn and the uncertainty of state finances, among other concerns, according to committee. Town Meeting voters have the final say on the budget next spring. - John M. Guilfoil

DETAILS ON TOWN MANAGER'S JOB - Officials have issued a job description for Westborough's new town manager's position. The job would have greater duties than those performed by Town Coordinator Henry Danis, who is retiring after 14 years as the top municipal employee. The manager's job was created as part of a new charter approved by Town Meeting voters this spring. The job description is the first time officials have spelled out the position's duties, which include appointing most municipal employees (excluding the police and fire chiefs), and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the town and its $85 million budget. The description carries a requirement that the town manager set up residence in Westborough or an adjoining community within a year of being hired. The job description is available on the town's website, www.town.westborough.ma.us, which sets Dec. 15 as the deadline for applicants to file a cover letter and resume to the Town Manager Search Committee, Town of Westborough, PO Box 1298, Westborough, MA 01581. - John Dyer

WINNING PHOTOS OF SUMMER - Works by the winners of the Trustees of Reservations' second annual Summer in the Valley photography contest are being showcased at the Dover Town Library. The exhibition, entitled "Nature in the Charles River Valley," is on display as part of the library's Artist of the Month series. The display features the grand-prize winner, a photograph by Edmund Prescottano, as well as 20 others by winners in individual age categories. For more information on the conservation group or to view the photographs online, go to www.thetrustees.org. - Anna Fiorentino

OPEN MEETING INVESTIGATION - The Middlesex district attorney's office is investigating whether town officials violated the state's Open Meeting Law when refusing to release minutes from three Board of Selectmen executive sessions involving former town manager Anthony Troiano. Troiano resigned from his position Oct. 2 during the final executive session, citing "personal and professional reasons." The town counsel, Ray Miyares, said the board would not release the minutes because "this is a personnel matter, and releasing the minutes of the executive sessions would result in making public matters that should be kept private." The Open Meeting Law states that the proceedings of governmental bodies can remain secret only "as long as publication may defeat the lawful purposes of the executive session, but no longer." Assistant District Attorney Bethany Stevens said she received three requests for an investigation, including one from the Globe, and is awaiting documents from the town. - Megan McKee

PLAYING IN ERIC'S HONOR - Organizers of an annual flag-football tournament on Thanksgiving weekend hope to raise more than $3,000 to support the Eric M. Perkins Memorial Scholarship. Perkins was 18 when he died on Thanksgiving night in 2004 in a car crash. The fund provides scholarships to Medfield High School football players who embody the sportsmanship for which Perkins was known, according to high school guidance counselor and football coach Erik Ormberg. Twenty teams of five players - ages 14 and older, with subs allowed - are expected to compete in the event, which features 12-minute games. The entry fee is $100 per team, and teams must reserve their spots by Thursday. Kickoff is at 10 a.m. on Nov. 29 at the Medfield High School football field. A silent auction of sports memorabilia is also scheduled. Game rules and additional information are available at 508-359-2482, the high school guidance office, and www.forever40.org. - James O'Brien

FREE SCREENINGS FOR MEMORY LOSS - Memory screenings will be held at the Whitcomb House Assisted Living Residence, 245 West St., between 1 and 4 p.m. Tuesday. The date is the Alzheimer's Foundation National Memory Screening Day. Anyone concerned about memory loss is invited to have a free, 15-minute screening by a healthcare professional, critical to early diagnosis of Alzheimer's or dementia. For details, call 508-634-2440. - Anna Fiorentino

OPENING FOR COUNCIL COORDINATOR - Selectmen unanimously approved a thaw in a recently adopted hiring freeze to allow Natick to hire a part-time coordinator of volunteers for the town's Council on Aging. Town Administrator Martha White said the position has been advertised a few times since April 2007, but the right candidate has not surfaced. The administrator said she hopes the economic climate will yield more experienced applicants for the job, which pays just over $12 per hour. - Megan McKee

IMAGES OF A FARMER'S LIFE - Nearly three dozen photographs that depict the life of Alex Waitkevich, a farmer who emigrated to Norfolk from Lithuania in 1905, are on display at the Norfolk Public Library this month. The photos, donated to the Norfolk Historical Commission this year, are part of a larger body of work by Frank Siteman, a commercial photographer who spent time in Norfolk as a young man. Call 508-528-3380 for details. - Michele Morgan Bolton